Solorio becomes PIAA’s first wrestling queen
Senior helps Canon-Mac win team title
By Joe Tuscano
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
HERSHEY – The tears flowed but they were tears of joy that ran down the cheeks of the face of Valarie Solorio.
They flowed for the years of workouts with the boys that helped her hone her skills at Canon-McMillan.
They flowed for the happiness that the opportunity to win the first state title in girls wrestling history in Pennsylvania was presented to her and Solorio stood tall.
They flowed because of her pin of Grace Nesbitt of Neshaminy in 3:14 at 100 pounds in a full Giant Center on Saturday. Her win sewed up the first team title in the history of female wrestling in the state and made Canon-McMillan the home of that trophy.
But most of all, they were tears of the satisfaction of being there in the nick of time, her senior season, to be able to have a chance at such a reward, the first …
“This is so surreal,” said Solorio. “I’ve been working my whole for this, and to see it come true. It’s nothing that I could have expected before, wrestling in this arena side by side. Ultimately securing the team title for my teammates was just amazing. When I secured the team title for my teammates, there was nothing like it. I went out with a goal and got it.”
The Big Macs have now gone from team champion to defending team champion. They will do so without Solorio, who is headed to the University of Iowa on scholarship.
Canon-McMillan had 93 points, 12 more than Bishop McCort. Cumberland Valley was third with 49 points.
“That was not an easy match,” Solorio said. “That was a tough match for me. (Nesbitt) is obviously good. I just had to wrestle a smart match.”
And make sure that Canon-McMillan head coach Brian Krenzelak wore the lucky Buns Pihakis suit and tie. Hey, every little bit helps, right?
“(Nesbitt) is only a freshman and undefeated (22-0) before this match. That girl is tough,” said Krenzelak. “First of all, give glory to God. When she was 9-years old, I pointed to a picture of George Custer and said he was the first state champion in state history and you’re going to be the first female champion even though she would be wrestling boys. Everything worked out perfectly. Her ability, I recognized it when she was young. Her father thought I was trying to build her up. But there was something about her. She never quit. She was in the room with all the boys, always worked hard, always persevered, always wanted to learn.”
Solorio took control of the match early with a takedown 22 seconds in. Three backpoints followed and a takedown before the end of the first period gave Solorio a 7-1 lead. Nesbitt gave her best shot, which turned into a reversal. But Solorio came roaring back with an escape, takedown and pin in 3:14. Just like that, 16-0, and state champion.
Solorio slammed the mat four times and blew kisses to the crowd. They responded with a roar of approval.
A wrestling queen was crowned.